Who Should Get a Gastric Band?

Millions of women are opting for a life changing gastric band in a bid to beat the bulge, but who should really be going under the knife to drop dress sizes?

Desperate dieters around the world are rushing to firms such as The Hospital Group to have the slimming operation, but medics are warning would be weight losers not to take drastic steps in a bid to shed unwanted pounds.

Doctors claim that operation is suitable for patients with a Body Mass Index of forty of higher – but patients with a BMI of over 35 along with a medical condition also get the green light. The thinking behind the procedure -carried out by The Hospital Group – is simple;

The gastric band procedure places a silicone loop around the upper stomach, shrinking the area and fooling the patient into thinking they are full. Most people will only eat when they experience hunger and stop if their stomachs are full, therefore patients will cease eating and lose weight.

Doctors claim that patients must change what they eat after the gastric band is fitted as the new stomach shape may not cope well with food which comes in large chunks, causing vomiting - so big feasts and dinner parties are a thing of the past. But despite the risks and stark warnings – the results speak for themselves.

On average, people who go under the knife with companies such as the The Hospital Group will lose up to 50% of their excess weight in the two years after they have one. Meanwhile research claims that a gastric band can cut the risk of diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure almost immediately.

Doctors recommend that would-be patients should instead cut down on calories and intensify their exercise regime before contacting The Hospital Group. The top treats to ditch include high calorie foods such as alcohol and fat filled treats.

Meanwhile people who step up their exercise regime could also shed the pounds without the surgery. Whatever your opinion, one thing is clear – gastric band sales show no signs of slimming down and firms such as The Hospital Group are preparing for a bulge in enquiries about the op in the run up to the summer months.